A comparison of two methods for the assessment of stress axis activity in wild fish in relation to wastewater effluent exposure

Pottinger, T.G.; Williams, Richard J.; Matthiessen, Peter

doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2016.03.022

Cited by 12 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…These release rates are consistent with the range of values reported for wild-caught (Pottinger and Matthiessen 2016b) and laboratory-held sticklebacks (Fürtbauer et al 2015;Sebire et al 2009). In the present study no overall significant difference in cortisol levels was detected between male and female fish, whereas this has been a consistent feature of previous data sets (Pottinger andMatthiessen 2016a, 2016b;Pottinger et al 2016). This is probably due to the time of year in which sampling was conducted.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…A proportional relationship between WWTW effluent concentration and stress axis responsiveness has been observed in riverine sticklebacks, leading to speculation that factors within WWTW effluent are responsible for modulation of the stress axis (Pottinger andMatthiessen 2016a, 2016b;Pottinger et al 2016). The results of the present study are to a limited extent consistent with this hypothesis: inspection of the estimated WWTW effluent concentrations for each river (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

“…Studies using rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum; Ings et al 2011) and the threespined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.; Pottinger et al 2011Pottinger et al , 2013Pottinger et al , 2016Pottinger and Matthiessen 2016a) have suggested that factors that affect the magnitude of the neuroendocrine stress response in feral fish may be present in wastewater treatment works (WWTW) effluents. Furthermore, stress axis function in fish at sites unaffected by WWTW discharges also shows considerable between-site variation and this has been linked to sitespecific differences in water quality (Pottinger and Matthiessen 2016b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modulation of the stress response in wild fish is associated with variation in dissolved nitrate and nitrite

Pottinger

2017

Environmental Pollution

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Article (refereed) -postprintPottinger, Tom G. 2017. Modulation of the stress response in wild fish is associated with variation in dissolved nitrate and nitrite.Contact CEH NORA team at noraceh@ceh.ac.ukThe NERC and CEH trademarks and logos ('the Trademarks') are registered trademarks of NERC in the UK and other countries, and may not be used without the prior written consent of the Trademark owner. respectively. These data suggest that either (i) inorganic N is a better surrogate than wastewater effluent concentration for an unknown factor or factors affecting stress axis function in fish, or (ii) dissolved inorganic N directly exerts a disruptive influence on the function of the neuroendocrine stress axis in fish, supporting concerns that nitrate is an endocrine-modulating chemical. KeywordsStickleback, stress axis, cortisol, endocrine disruption, nitrate CapsuleEvidence is presented that the function of the neuroendocrine stress axis in three-spined sticklebacks may be modulated by dissolved inorganic N concentrations, supporting concerns that nitrate might act as an endocrine disruptor in aquatic wildlife.3

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modulation of the stress response in wild fish is associated with variation in dissolved nitrate and nitrite

Pottinger

2017

Environmental Pollution

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“…Total oxidized nitrogen (N) (A) and total orthophosphate (B) at sites uncontaminated by wastewater-treatment plant (WWTP) effluent (open boxes, sites 1-9) and WWTP-contaminated sites (gray boxes, sites[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. Uncontaminated sites are plotted in rank order by total oxidized N concentration, and WWTP-contaminated sites are ranked by the estimated effluent concentration (percentage of total river flow).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Long‐term water quality data explain interpopulation variation in responsiveness to stress in sticklebacks at both wastewater effluent‐contaminated and uncontaminated sites

Pottinger

Matthiessen

2016

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Article (refereed) -postprintPottinger, Tom G.; Matthiessen, Peter. 2016. Long-term water quality data explain interpopulation variation in responsiveness to stress in sticklebacks at both wastewater effluent-contaminated and uncontaminated sites. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 35 (12 AbstractThe magnitude of the corticosteroid response to a standardised stressor varied in proportion to the concentration of effluent in three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.) captured downstream of 10 wastewater treatment works (WWTW). However, at 9 sites with no upstream WWTW input inter-population variation in the reactivity of the stress axis occurred across a similar range to that seen for fish at impacted sites, suggesting that the factor(s) responsible for modulating stress responsiveness in sticklebacks are not unique to sites receiving WWTW effluent. Physicochemical data from a long-term monitoring programme were employed to investigate whether variation in water quality contributed to between-site variation in stress axis reactivity. Between-site variation in fourteen water quality determinands explained between 30% and 60% of the variation in stress reactivity, and fish size, for sticklebacks at both WWTW-contaminated and uncontaminated sites. At uncontaminated sites the mean mass and length of sticklebacks increased with total oxidised N concentration (as an indicator of anthropogenic input)whereas at WWTW-contaminated sites fish size decreased with increasing effluent concentration, suggesting that factors adversely affecting growth were present predominantly at WWTW-contaminated sites. In contrast, at contaminated and uncontaminated sites the magnitude of the corticosteroid response to a standardised stressor increased with anthropogenic input (effluent concentration or total oxidised N respectively), indicating that factor(s) modulating the reactivity of the stress axis may be present at both WWTW-contaminated and uncontaminated sites.

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“…The most likely agents being the natural and synthetic steroid 61 estrogens excreted by humans (Desbrow et al, 1998). Similarly, there is evidence that increasing exposure 62 to wastewater effluent elevates the level of the stress hormone cortisol in fish, at least in stickleback 63 (Pottinger et al, 2016). Recently, a disastrous decline in Asian vultures has been strongly linked to the non-64 steroidal anti-inflammatory agent diclofenac (Oaks et al, 2004).…”

Section: Introduction 30mentioning

confidence: 99%

Does exposure to domestic wastewater effluent (including steroid estrogens) harm fish populations in the UK?

Johnson

Chen

2017

Science of The Total Environment

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Historic fisheries data collected from locations across the UK over several years were compared with 13 predicted estrogen exposure derived from the resident human population. This estrogen exposure could be 14 viewed as a proxy for general sewage (wastewater) exposure. With the assistance of the Environment 15 Agency in the UK, fisheries abundance data for Rutilis rutilis (roach), Alburnus alburnus (bleak), Leuciscus 16 leuciscus (dace) and Perca fluviatilis (perch) from 38 separate sites collected over 7 to 17 year periods were 17 retrieved. From these data the average density (fish/m 2 /yr) were compared against average and peak 18 predicted estrogen (wastewater) exposure for these sites. Estrogen concentrations were predicted using the 19 LF2000-WQX model. No correlation between estrogen/wastewater exposure and fish density could be 20 found for any of the species. Year on year temporal changes in roach population abundance at 3 sites on the 21 middle River Thames and 4 sites on the Great Ouse were compared against estrogen exposure over the 22 preceding year. In this case the estrogen prediction was calculated based on the upstream human 23 population providing the estrogen load and the daily flow value allowing concentration to be estimated over 24 time. At none of the sites on these rivers were temporal declines in abundance associated with preceding 25 estrogen (effluent) exposure. The results indicate that, over the past decade, wastewater and estrogen 26 exposure has not led to a catastrophic decline in these four species of cyprinid fish. 27 _____________________________________________________________________________________ 28

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A comparison of two methods for the assessment of stress axis activity in wild fish in relation to wastewater effluent exposure

Cited by 12 publications

References 64 publications

Modulation of the stress response in wild fish is associated with variation in dissolved nitrate and nitrite

Modulation of the stress response in wild fish is associated with variation in dissolved nitrate and nitrite

Long‐term water quality data explain interpopulation variation in responsiveness to stress in sticklebacks at both wastewater effluent‐contaminated and uncontaminated sites

Does exposure to domestic wastewater effluent (including steroid estrogens) harm fish populations in the UK?

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